something dangerous at that news. I looked back at Dru and he said, “They have twelve votes, but they have not heard the voice of the Lupei family yet. With Mother Udele gone, it falls to her heirs to cast their vote. It falls upon the Soras of the Lupei. It falls upon you and Celeste, Laney.”
I blinked. “But... war? How can we vote to start a war that would cost both sides so much?”
He nodded at that, knowing it would be my response, the man didn't want war either, even after seeing his kin slain. He said, “You are the only one who can stop it. We sent out four men in different directions to track you down in the dark of night. I fear I am the only one to make it through the enemy to find you?” It was a question.
I nodded sadly. “You are the only one of the Lupei we have seen.”
I turned to Fredrick and blurted, “We need to free the Lupei from siege and find Mother Udele.”
The Duke shook his head, I could see the conflict in his eyes, “We are not allowed to unless they are in the realm of Wexbury.” He looked at Dru hopefully.
The Gypsy nodded with a primal grin. “We are in the mountains at the southeastern most reach of the Realm of Wexbury.”
Fredrick looked at the Prince who tilted his head in assent and I could see the fire of Wexbury in his eyes as he said, “Celeste, mobilize the force you deem necessary to free the Lupei. We will not let this assault on the friends of Wexbury stand.”
I noted he carefully stayed way from the word ally, as it held too many political connotations. I hated politics.
The Prince cleared his voice and we all turned to him as he said, “I'm afraid Lady Celeste cannot act in the name of Wexbury on this one. In this instance, she is being called upon by the Gypsies as one of their own. As such, she is akin to a visiting dignitary from a foreign land. Have her second in command take charge until such time as this whole mess is straightened up.”
He held his hand up to prevent Celeste and Fredrick's protestations. “And it sounds as if Mother Udele has been removed from the domain of Wexbury, so her rescue cannot be performed by the Knights of Wexbury.”
He exhaled. “I can send word to Solomon and the other keeps to be on the lookout.”
I was starting to get angry, we needed to save Udele and he was playing politics.
I almost blurted out something that more than likely would have had me put in the stockades as the man smirked at the look on my face and held his hand up to stop me as he added, “But I am sure that if visiting dignitaries requested a diplomatic escort of say... three?”
He left it hanging and Celeste caught on before I did and said, “Four.”
He amended, “Of four capable knights from Wexbury, the crown would have no choice but to endorse it. If those dignitaries happened to be in search of a missing member of their clan, then who am I to meddle in their private business? With my endorsement, they would have free passage through the realms.”
Celeste poked her head out into the hall and called loudly, “Verna, fetch Tennison!”
She stepped back into the room as Doc started examining Dru's wound again. Everyone was looking expectantly at me. Celeste was just grinning at me. What? Oh! I got it. I felt a little dimwitted and blushed and then stood tall as I faced the Prince.
I said, “Prince George of the Altii, the Lupei family formally requests a diplomatic escort through the lands of Sparo for an unspecified amount of time.”
He blinked innocently. “Why Sora Laney of the Lupei, it would be my pleasure to accommodate you and Sora Celeste of the Lupei in this endeavor.”
I grinned at the man, this was all just silly, but I knew it was a serious game of politics and he was walking a tightrope here.
Behind me, Doc Maxwell muttered, “Just amazing,”
I looked back at him as he looked up at me.
“The man is virtually healed. It looks to be about two weeks along in the process.”
Dru gave a cheesy grin and winked
I blinked. “But... war? How can we vote to start a war that would cost both sides so much?”
He nodded at that, knowing it would be my response, the man didn't want war either, even after seeing his kin slain. He said, “You are the only one who can stop it. We sent out four men in different directions to track you down in the dark of night. I fear I am the only one to make it through the enemy to find you?” It was a question.
I nodded sadly. “You are the only one of the Lupei we have seen.”
I turned to Fredrick and blurted, “We need to free the Lupei from siege and find Mother Udele.”
The Duke shook his head, I could see the conflict in his eyes, “We are not allowed to unless they are in the realm of Wexbury.” He looked at Dru hopefully.
The Gypsy nodded with a primal grin. “We are in the mountains at the southeastern most reach of the Realm of Wexbury.”
Fredrick looked at the Prince who tilted his head in assent and I could see the fire of Wexbury in his eyes as he said, “Celeste, mobilize the force you deem necessary to free the Lupei. We will not let this assault on the friends of Wexbury stand.”
I noted he carefully stayed way from the word ally, as it held too many political connotations. I hated politics.
The Prince cleared his voice and we all turned to him as he said, “I'm afraid Lady Celeste cannot act in the name of Wexbury on this one. In this instance, she is being called upon by the Gypsies as one of their own. As such, she is akin to a visiting dignitary from a foreign land. Have her second in command take charge until such time as this whole mess is straightened up.”
He held his hand up to prevent Celeste and Fredrick's protestations. “And it sounds as if Mother Udele has been removed from the domain of Wexbury, so her rescue cannot be performed by the Knights of Wexbury.”
He exhaled. “I can send word to Solomon and the other keeps to be on the lookout.”
I was starting to get angry, we needed to save Udele and he was playing politics.
I almost blurted out something that more than likely would have had me put in the stockades as the man smirked at the look on my face and held his hand up to stop me as he added, “But I am sure that if visiting dignitaries requested a diplomatic escort of say... three?”
He left it hanging and Celeste caught on before I did and said, “Four.”
He amended, “Of four capable knights from Wexbury, the crown would have no choice but to endorse it. If those dignitaries happened to be in search of a missing member of their clan, then who am I to meddle in their private business? With my endorsement, they would have free passage through the realms.”
Celeste poked her head out into the hall and called loudly, “Verna, fetch Tennison!”
She stepped back into the room as Doc started examining Dru's wound again. Everyone was looking expectantly at me. Celeste was just grinning at me. What? Oh! I got it. I felt a little dimwitted and blushed and then stood tall as I faced the Prince.
I said, “Prince George of the Altii, the Lupei family formally requests a diplomatic escort through the lands of Sparo for an unspecified amount of time.”
He blinked innocently. “Why Sora Laney of the Lupei, it would be my pleasure to accommodate you and Sora Celeste of the Lupei in this endeavor.”
I grinned at the man, this was all just silly, but I knew it was a serious game of politics and he was walking a tightrope here.
Behind me, Doc Maxwell muttered, “Just amazing,”
I looked back at him as he looked up at me.
“The man is virtually healed. It looks to be about two weeks along in the process.”
Dru gave a cheesy grin and winked
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